One of South Africa’s experienced upright and electric bassist Mlungisi Gegana to perform at The State Theatre

Down to earth, unassuming and humble; Jazz Bass Guitarist, Mlungisi Gegana will be performing at the Jazz and African Music Nights. The Jazz and Music Nights is a series of events that has been going on at The SA State Theatre for a few years now. Bro Mlu, as he is affectionately known, will be performing at from20:00

Mlungisi Gegana traveled around the country to find his musical home. The man with over a decade of experience in the art of the bass guitar has settled in Johannesburg and he released a long awaited Jazz fusion album aptly titled; One Step Forward in 2004.

Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Mlungisi is a brilliant self-taught Bass Guitarist whose musical career saw him grow from pop music (with The Black Slaves) ,occasional club appearances (notably Kippies Jazz Club in Newtown) to a leading South African Jazz name with respect from his peers (Godfrey Mgcina, Vusi Khumalo and Louis Mahlanga to name a few) and a home with a prominent booking agency, BakTu Musik.

Credited as an exciting songwriter as well, Mlungisi Gegana wrote all the songs on his debut album, arranged and produced them too! He draws inspiration from Traditional and Mainstream Jazz fusion resulting in a style recognized as hard to classify but a pleasure to enjoy.

“I pick up the bass (guitar) and start playing around with notes. If I hear something I like, I find it just naturally develops into a song..” says Mlungisi Gegana.

Mlungisi Gegana ishas just launched his follow up album titled; ‘I am who I am’.

Entrance at the door will be R80.00

South Africa's legendary upright and electric bassist, Mlungisi Gegana to launch second album.

Down to earth, unassuming and humble; Jazz Bass Guitarist, Mlungisi Gegana is launching his 2nd album on the 22 August at Winnie’s Soul & Jazz Restaurant in Sandton, Johannesburg.

After travelling around the country to find his musical home, the man with over decades of experience in the art of the bass guitar has settled in Johannesburg and he released a long awaited Jazz fusion album aptly titled; ‘I am who I am’ (2014 - Independent). His last solo release was ‘One Step Forward’ (2004 - Gallo), a decade ago.

Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Mlungisi is a brilliant self-taught Bass Guitarist whose musical career saw him grow from pop music (with The Black Slaves), occasional club appearances (notably Kippie’s Jazz Club in Newtown) to a leading South African Jazz name with respect from his peers (Godfrey Mgcina, Vusi Khumalo and Louis Mhlanga to name a few) and a home with a prominent booking agency; BakTu Musik.

Credited as an exciting songwriter as well, Mlungisi Gegana wrote all the songs on his debut album (as well as the second album), arranged and produced them too! He draws inspiration from Traditional and Mainstream Jazz fusion resulting in a style recognized as hard to classify but a pleasure to enjoy.

“I pick up the bass (guitar) and start playing around with notes. If I hear something I like, ke, I find it just naturally develops into a song..” says Mlungisi Gegana.

In live performances, he is accompanied by good musicians including:

Lifa Arosi - Piano,

Siphelelo Mazibuko - Drums,

Ayo Solanke - Tenor and Soprano Saxophone

Sibusiso Mkhize - Trumpet and Flugal Horn.

Mlungisi Gegana has just released his follow up album titled ‘I am who I am’.

For more info: 011 656 3059

Namibia’s International Award winning superstar Elemotho, to perform in Pretoria.

Elemotho has just came back from his UK Tour where also performed at the International WOMAD Festival and shared the stage with more than 50 international musicians among the likes of Manu Dibangu, Salif Keita, Youssour N’Dour, Oliver Mtukudzi, Madee and Mari Boine to name but a few.

Elemotho comes to South Africa for the 6th time now after making appearances at the Bassline and Arts Alive among others. This time he will be gracing the stage at the State Theatre on Friday 19th September 2014. His fans will have to catch him at20:00 in the Rendezvous Theatre within The SA State Theatre Precinct for R100 at the door.

Elemotho is the first Namibian musician to win the RFI-France 24 Discoveries Awards- 2012, among a list of more than 500 African, Indian and Pacific artists. On top if all, this kalaharian singer/songwriter has just signed a Worldwide distribution deal with UK based World Music Record Label, ARC Music, making his music much more accessible to the World. With a third album to his name, Ke Nako (its time), this hard working artist has just successfully completed a 3 months African Tour, taking the new sound of the Kalahari everywhere from Accra, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Antananarivo, Khartoum, Cotonou to name some of the cities Elemotho has crazed with his powerful and poetic presence. The year 2013 also found Elemotho headlining the Windhoek Jazz Festival alongside jazz maestro Hugh Masekela and South African Afropop sensation Zahara. And to top it all, his song !Kgalanamib has been chosen as the theme song for Namibia’s Adventure Tourism Summit 2013.

This Musician hailing from the Kalahari plays acoustic guitar as well as sings in his mother-tongue Setswana, English and other Namibian languages. He does not classify his music under a certain style: “I see myself as a performing artist and musical activist; I like to throw reality around, thus exploring the depth of the human spirit”. From rural boy to modern lyricist, Elemotho stands-out from your usual commercial and easily consumable sounds by using experimental ideas where reality is amplified through his vision of music: “I grew up with storytelling around the fire and that has inspired me to create something that could make you dance as well as listen, smile as well as cry, find peace as well as wisdom”.

Having successfully presented his 3rd album, Ke Nako, to African audiences, Elemotho is ready to take his new sounds further, where you will embark on a journey:“that musically invokes the spirit of the Kalahari” (Uganda Daily Monitor, Uganda), “A smile that never leaves your face and a dose of inspired and generous music” ( toutelaculture, France).

“There is one name that stands above the rest when it comes to African contemporary music in Namibia, and that name undoubtedly is Elemotho” (New Era, Namibia). “An inspiring craftsman that makes you want to smile, cry and dance all at once – his songs stir your mind, charms your spirit and explore the intensity of the human spirit” (Confidente, Namibia,). “Elemotho…the roaming bushman with diverse yet deep songs that give food for thought, this winner of the 2012 RFI-France 24 Discoveries awards, has been building a reputation beyond the borders of his homeland Namibia for several years” ( RFI, France)

The Bassline in Newtown is proud to announce the return of Jazz live at the Bassline! Wednesday 18th June 2014 saw the launch of the RED HOT JAZZ nights series, presented by Johnnie Walker Red Label.

The Bassline is currently celebrating it’s 20th anniversary. In keeping with it's legendary Jazz heritage, the Bassline is once again hosting the hottest established and new acts in it's Jazz Room venue. The Bassline recently upgraded the sound gear in the Jazz Room and redecorated it to emulate the original club in Melville.

BakTu Musik didn’t sit back but took the stage in what promises to be a cherry on top of a great jazz line-up put together by The Bassline by having Inanda born upright jazz bassist Musa Manzini on the bill. Musa Manzini will be gracing the stage on the 02 July 2014 to make this series a great one.

Musa Manzini has released 6 albums under his name including a compilations of his hits ‘The Best of Musa Manzini’. Musa Manzini has performed in many continents and countries which has enabled him to be a well round musician, drawing experiences from these travels and learning the different world cultures; North Sea Jazz Festival, New Orleans, Joy of Jazz, Muscat, Jazzathon, Artsalive, Sao Paolo, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires, as well as many other jazz club performances, functions and musicians’ workshops and university master classes.

We were also honoured when The Bassline decided to add another bass player from our stable, Lucas Senyatso. The dynamic electric bassist from Montshiwa, Mafikeng and one-time SAMA Nominee will be mesmerising his fans on the 23rd July 2014. In 1998 he received a call from the legendary Hugh Masekela, to join his band on a fulltime basis. They immediately flew to USA and Europe for a tour. That was the beginning of bigger things. Every three to six months they were out of the country performing overseas. Countries and cities they toured are too many to mention.

As soon as Lucas Senyatso’s name got tobe known around Johannesburg all the big stars in South African music industry (and worldwide) wanted to work with him. Stars like Sibongile Khumalo, Themba Mkhize, Gloria Bosman, Judith Sephuma, Ringo Madlingozi, Patty Austin (USA), Keko Matsui (Japan), and many more, have used his services as a studio session musician, live performance and he also wrote songs for some of them.

Johnnie Walker Red Hot Jazz Nights will present a stellar lineup of ?ne South African Jazz the next six weeks.